RX-178 Gundam Mark II Version 2.0 (A.E.U.G. Prototype Mobile Suit)

Series Z Gundam
Title RX-178 Gundam Mark II Version 2.0 (A.E.U.G. Prototype Mobile Suit)
Release Date October 2005
Suggested Price (JPY) 4,000
No.  of Parts 17 plastic runners + polycaps + 1 sticker + 1 water slide decal + 1 dry transfer decal + 1 soft wire + 1 vinyl tube + 1 instruction manual
Plastic Color White, Red, Yellow, Clear, Dark Gray, Purplish Gray, Transparent Red
Grade MG
Scale 1/100
My Rating Excellent
Model Status Completed (2006-07-08)
Production Roll-Out# #25

 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
   

Comment
I am not very interested in the Z-Gundam line of mechas until I saw this version 2.0 kit. It comes with a very much improved version of Gundam Mark II with newly designed joints that allowing incredibly realistic posing. It is almost as good as (if not better than) G-Gundam series of "Action Frame".

The next feature that caught my eye is the display base. Normally older MG does not come with a base but this comes with a "Docking Bay" and "Launch Pad" diorama. It is perfect for the lazy me who don't build base for Gundam.

This kit is purchase from Sungai Wang.

Construction Process
This kit is built on the conventional way where the whole model is assemble for test fitting. It is later disassemble for painting. Note that the color for this MG is almost accurate except for the upper shield. It should have yellow areas in form of triangles on both side. Bandai is providing stickers as a cheap skate solution. Also note that the purple gray inner frame or skeleton. The color is not realistic for a mech.

     

Choosing Color Scheme
Personally I prefer to follow the anime color scheme and I really do not like to change it unless necessary. As you can see from the photos below, the box art depicts RX-178 in burnt metal or silver whereas the model is painted with the usual white. White is boring and I am looking for something that does not deviate too much from the original. I decided on silver. Since this is a space type, I plan to build this kit clean and choose metallic colors to match the silver scheme.

   
The following are the color scheme or painting method chosen to achieve the final result. Max Starter White painting technique is used. Since I am aiming for metallic effect, I use silver instead of white over here for the armor highlight.

Intended Color

Base Coat

Highlight

Top Coat

Silver

Flat Black

 

Silver

Purplish Blue

Flat Black

Silver

Dark Purplish Blue (mixed. mist)

Red

Pink (mixed)

Silver

Clear Red (mist)

Yellow

   

Orange Yellow

Gray

   

Dark Gray 2

* Mixed - Mixed paint
* Mist - Very thin paint lightly misted on surface
* Highlight - Only spray at the center of armor parts. (Please refer to Max Technique)

     
Parts are separated into different color group. Painted parts are keep in plastic to prevent it from missing.
     
White armor parts are painted in silver.

Initially tried to do some gradation on these parts but then black and silver looks too dirty for a clean mech. Painted the whole thing in silver instead.

     
Docking bay is painted with flat black for base coat then highlight with very light gray (mix). Finally shadowed and mist with Dark Gray 2.
     

Finishing Touches
This is a MG so there is not much to touch up except for the head. The first photo shows a very obvious joint line that you could not do anything before painting. I use cement to joint the parts together and then sand it away. I forgot that this is plastic and not a resin kit. I sanded too hard and leave a lot of sand marks on it. The sand marks is fixed by rubbing Tamiya Compound and then re-spray silver on it.

     
A plain silver mech is too boring. This version 2.0 kit comes with a lot of detail markings. I am using some real touch marker to spice it up. Since the backing is in silver, the low opacity real touch Gundam marker will make it look like some neon lights all over the mech.

Dry transfer decals are applied. I do not apply water-slide transfer decal here as I am lazy to coat another layer of clear on it.

   

Document Date : 2006-07-10



Responses to this page:

  1. (Sat, 15 Jul 2006 11:00 am) Ken Kwok says:

    I really appreciate your serious in doing the kit, especially in selecting the colors, and the outcome is so great!!

  2. (Thu, 10 May 2007 1:27 am) dropout12 says:

    hey looks good, anyway my question is- whats the difference between the gundam markers? and the gundam real touch markers? can u tell me, thanks.

  3. (Sat, 12 May 2007 11:10 am) kfchong says:

    Please check out my "Tools of the Trade" in the articles section.

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